The town of Proddatur in Kadapa district was shaken last week by the brutal abduction and murder of prominent moneylender Venugopal Reddy. In a swift and commendable operation, police authorities have successfully arrested six individuals believed to be involved in this sensational crime, leveraging advanced technological investigation methods.
Reddy, a resident of the Bollavaram area, was known for his stringent recovery practices, often leading to disputes with clients who failed to meet their repayment deadlines. On the afternoon of September 19, while on his way home, he was forcibly taken by unidentified assailants.
Alarm bells rang when his wife, Prameela Devi, discovered his abandoned two-wheeler, with a suspicious scattering of chili powder nearby. Her immediate report to the police prompted the registration of a missing person’s case, which was quickly escalated to an abduction investigation. Superintendent of Police (SP) Shelke Nachiketh Vishwanath wasted no time, instructing the Deputy Superintendent (Proddatur) to assemble specialized teams dedicated to locating Reddy and apprehending those responsible.
Tragically, the search concluded with the discovery of Venugopal Reddy’s body in the nearby Kundu river, confirming the worst fears and transforming the case into a murder inquiry.
Following an initial tip from Reddy’s wife, who suspected the involvement of builder V. Lakshmi Reddy (53) and mechanic Y. Venkatasubba Reddy (55), investigators meticulously pieced together digital evidence. Utilizing Google Takeout data, extensive CCTV footage, and toll plaza records, the special teams managed to pinpoint the primary suspects.
In addition to the builder and mechanic, police also arrested four other individuals from Telangana: B. Nagesh (26), L. Ajay Kumar (18), C. Pranay Kumar (20), and K. Sivaprasad (22).
During a press conference on Wednesday, SP Nachiketh Vishwanath revealed that the primary motive stemmed from deep-seated animosity. The first two accused held a profound grudge against the moneylender, whose aggressive recovery tactics had led to the attachment of their properties due to unpaid debts.
Further investigation unearthed a history of conflict between the parties, including a previous incident in 2016 where the moneylender had been physically assaulted, a case that was officially recorded at the Proddatur police station.